Golden State, Claremont to meet Friday on water issues

CLAREMONT - Golden State Water Co. and city officials this morning will finally get together for a meeting to discuss their water issues.

Claremont has been at odds with the San Dimas-based company since it asked the state Public Utilities Commission to approve a rate increase for customers in the city of more than 24 percent for 2013 and additional increases in 2014 and 2015.

City Manager Tony Ramos said the closed meeting is set for 11 a.m. at the law offices of Best Best & Krieger in Riverside. The law firm represents Claremont.

The two sides, which have been feuding for months over water rates, have not been able to gather since their public quarreling started due to scheduling conflicts.

Ramos said the meeting is "to discuss water issues of mutual interest." He declined to talk further about the meeting.

Denise Kruger, senior vice president of regulated utilities for Golden State, issued a statement on Thursday about the meeting, saying, "We are looking forward to discussing ways that we can work together with the city."

Golden State and Claremont officials were originally expected to meet the week of Jan. 21, but that gathering never materialized.

Claremont officials late last year made an offer of more than $54 million to purchase Golden State's assets in the city, but the offer was turned down.

Golden State officials on Dec.

Advertisement

20 sent a letter to Claremont's attorney stating the company was unwilling to sell the assets, but " ... Golden State is happy to meet with Claremont officials to discuss ways in which it can forge a partnership with the city to better serve residents."

Just a few days earlier, Golden State had released a feasibility study that said the water company's Claremont assets are worth as much as $204 million.

A proposed settlement resulted in the city's 11,000 customers and ratepayers receiving a 15.1 percent rate hike this year, 2 percent more in 2014 and 1.8 percent in 2015. The commission's board still has to finally approve the increase. A date for that vote has not been set.

Claremont has recently hinted at using eminent domain to obtain Golden State's assets in the city.